I found a crack in the sidewall of my rear tire that is about 1/8 inch wide. So now I'm in the market for a new tire. Any suggestions are appreciated.
Quote from: Fitzgerald on May 19, 2010, 12:06:57 PM
So now I'm in the market for a new tire. Any suggestions are appreciated.
Are you looking for advice on M/C tires or Darkside tires??
Brands or locations to purchase??
Brands? yes, I have a metzeler 880 on it now but they are rather expensive, cheapest I've found is $139 plus shipping at shadetreepowersports.com
I've also looked at the Dunlop K555. I found it at jakewilson.com for $104 and free shipping.
Also there is the IRC WF920 for around the same price as the Dunlop but I'm not familiar with the brand.
places/online stores to buy from?
I'm not sold on the darkside idea yet!
I like my Bridgestone BattleAx better than the previous Metzler 880. Not a high mileage tire though, but very smooth and sticky in all conditions so far.
So I guess it depends on multiple factor.
How many miles you put on your bike, what type or riding you do, do you carry a passenger/cargo, etc. etc.
I have run Metz and Avon and they are both great tires and last a long time (for M/C tires). I run about 10K a year, so a M/C tire lasts me about 18 months..
I have found that a M/C tire tends to start getting hard after about a year and does not have the traction it once had.
Most people on the Forum that I have read prefer the Metz/Avon over the Dunlop for handling and traction.
I don't know too much about IRC, other than they are an up and coming tire manufacturer. I haven't heard anything good/bad about them..
IF $$ is a factor, then you have to look at each of the factors and weigh out what is the best compromise for you.
If you only put a couple thousand miles on your bike a year, then you may want to go with a cheaper tire.. You may replace it before it get's worn out due to the hardness of the rubber anywayz.
I know I haven't answered your question, and maybe you already knew all that I have typed, but I am just throwing out what runs through my mind when it's time for a tire for me..
Shoot (anybody on the board will tell you I'm crazy) my last tire I put on my bike was a used AVON tyre. It was in pretty good condition, and since I am out of work, the $25 looked really good to me, especially since I also had to buy a tire for my wife's bike also..
IF I was working, I probably would have never gone down that path, but Like I said, you have to look at the factors and make your best compromise...
By the way, I bought my last M/C tire from Jafrum.com (http://www.jafrum.com)
rockymountainatvmc.com (http://www.rockymountainatvmc.com) also has good prices.
I have also purchased tires from americanmototire.com (http://www.americanmototire.com)
I just bought the Metz's... they're sitting right here in front of me... off the bike... but they LOOK brilliant. Can't wait to get them mounted. My Dunlops that were 7 years old (from previous owner), were slipping in slow corners and I didn't feel very confident in them in faster corners as they probably failed the Lincoln test some time ago!
I was able to get a decent deal on them and pick them up in-store. Now if I can just find someone who isn't booked up to mount them I'd be happy.
That's my break from work, time to get some kip, it's 3am here!
My metzeller is still brand new looking except for the cracks in the sidewall. The tire is about 6 years old. I don't put much mileage on them since my twins were born almost 3 years ago.
hehe, I believe you there. Our second is about to come and I have a business too so if my bike wasn't my daily transport I'd be hard pressed to get out on it too. My dunlops are 7yrs but no cracks - although we might find some when they get taken off.
Sounds like you might have answered your own question. If milage life isn't your driving decision factor, and time life is, then the cheapest tire is probably your best bet.
When I was looking at tires a few months ago, the Dunny price you've already listed is the cheapest delivered price I saw.
I was looking for a 170/80 tire and I was trying to decide between the Dunny, Metz and Avon. Ended up going with the cheaper Dunny as both of my last tires ended up getting "nailed" and had to be replaced before their milage life was done. If not for that fact, I would have gone with the Avon.
Also note that I recall hearing a couple bad things about IRC tires a year or two back. Can't recall the specifics though, sorry. Bridgestone makes a stock size tire to, Excedra and BattleAx. If you require the front to match the rear tire, then your decision is Dunny or Metz.
My old Metz 880 wore unevenly and quite oddly... unlike the original K555 on the bike when I bought it. I'm trying a Dunlop 404 now and it seems to be wearing evenly.
BTW, handling seems to be comparable between the 880 and the 404
I guess I will give the irc wildflare opinion. This is the second season with them on put about 6,000 on last year, still plenty of tread left. Rain traction is ok, slow speed dry traction is very nice. Look is awsome, and have them in both front and rear sizes to put the bigger tire on. I believe I paid around 200 for the front and rear tire. And tes I would buy these tires again.
If you're going stock size, go Dunlop K555. If your oversizing I hear good thing about the Metz. I replace mine every 2 years whether It's worn out or not and the Metz in stock size (150) was terrible in serious turns (do a metzler search on here to get other opinions). I just put a K555 back on mine, what a difference! The stickier, more rounded tire feels so much better.
I went with the Dunlop K555 for $103.99 w/ free shipping and handling at www.jakewilson.com this is the same company as the rockymountainatvmc.com.
I hope I can put a few more miles on this one and get my $$ worth. :lol:
I put new Metzlers on mine. Love them :)
~04/'08, replaced rear w/ Metzler over-sized. Did fine until 06/'09(2 nails found in it). Put some Slime in it, went to MM7, never lost air, but when Buddy Hammond and I went to Topeka in Aug./'09, there were a several areas where Slime was seeping out. So replaced the Metzler with a Dunlop in Topeka. Seemed to ride a tad smoother, but in a ride in early Apr., this year, the 8 month old Dunlop found a large 4 in. nail. That was also the day that the R/R went South, so replaced the rear again, with a Metzler. I was told that the Metzler lasts longer( as long as it doesn't find nails). The Metz I changed in Topeka had ~12k mis. on it and looked like it could go another8k. The Dunlop with the lg. nail had ~5k on it, with over half tread left.
Brad Badgett
MOOT #164
1996 VF750C
OK Region
I still believe that the road surfaces you ride on make a big difference in tire life. If you have doubts, inspect your tires closely then ride Hwy 11 from Pittsburg to Sulpher Springs and check them again.
Charles, I think you are right. Some bright person from TxDOT decided that we needed a rough surface on RR1826, and it was repaved with it. Aside from tire wear, the noise was unbelievable. The highway is about a mile as the crow flies from my house, and when I walked out in the morning, I could no longer hear the birds chirping for the noise from the road.
The neighbors along the road got up a committee, enlisted the aid of our state senator and representative, and finally got it repaved again -- with ordinary asphalt. Much quieter now, and tire wear is back to normal.
Maybe the rougher surfaces are safer, I don't know. In our neck of the woods, we concluded the added safety was not worth the noise. Tire wear was a secondary, but important, issue.
I noticed that Hwy 32 from Dripping Springs to Blanco (including "the Devil's backbone") was paved with the same stuff, which began to wear unevenly right away. I think it has been replaced, as well.
I have been told that Arizona uses old tires, chipped up, in a pavement mix with some success. Texas might consider this approach, instead of grinding them into enormous piles (one is/was near Fort Worth) only to catch fire and burn for months, fouling the air...
Quote from: Fitzgerald on May 21, 2010, 01:40:53 PM
I went with the Dunlop K555 for $103.99 w/ free shipping and handling at www.jakewilson.com this is the same company as the rockymountainatvmc.com.
I hope I can put a few more miles on this one and get my $$ worth. :lol:
Have you received your tire yet? I am curious to know what you think of it. Also where are you planning on getting the Tube?
I got the tire in last Monday. I've been really busy at work. The guy who was going to install it fell thru (his machine is broken). My father in law took the bike while I was out of town for the holiday and changed the tire for me. He's good like that! BTW, no tube needed. I'll be test riding it later this week!
Say when and I may go join you. Went ride (in the rain) Sunday with Robert in Ville Platte.
I've been wanting to ride all week but these summer pop up storms aren't my favorite. I may be riding to work Friday and Saturday. I'll call you if I can break away for more than that.